“We are excited to announce and proud say that Kris will now be the Defensive Line Coach of the Miami Dolphins … Look out Florida hear we come. This is an amazing opportunity for our little family!”

Kocurek will reunite with former Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who he worked with for six seasons. Suh has been with the Dolphins since the 2015 season. He will also rejoin Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke, who was on the Lions staff from 2009-13.

In 2009, Kocurek joined the Lions as an assistant defensive line coach under head coach Jim Schwartz. He was promoted to the main defensive line coach a year later. After Schwartz was fired after the 2013 season, Kocurek remained on the Lions staff through Jim Caldwell’s tenure.

In his nine seasons with the Lions, Kocurek helped develop players like Suh, Cliff Avril, George Johnson and Ziggy Ansah. This season, the Lions finished 20th in the league in sacks with 35.